GOVERNOR, KDHE URGES KANSANS TO GET A FLU SHOT SOON

KANSAS RELEASES STATE PANDEMIC INFLUENZA PLAN

Governor Kathleen Sebelius and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) urge Kansans to get a flu shot and take precautions against influenza this year. In addition, they're preparing the public for the potential of pandemic influenza through the release of the state's pandemic plan today.

2005 Flu Season Recommendations: KDHE recommends individuals who are most vulnerable to severe complications from influenza get a flu shot before Oct. 24. This will ensure current vaccine supplies go to the higher risk population first. At this time, vaccine manufacturers indicate sufficient supplies for the season; therefore, healthy Kansans are also encouraged to get a flu shot this season after Oct. 24. Healthy people, ages 5 to 49, who aren't pregnant, may also take the nasal vaccine, FluMist, instead of the traditional flu shot.

KDHE urges all Kansans to take other actions to prevent influenza including frequent and thorough hand washing, healthy eating, and exercising; and to take steps to keep others from getting the flu including staying home when sick, limiting activities to speed recovery, and covering your cough.

State Pandemic Influenza Plan Released: To prepare the public for the potential of pandemic influenza, KDHE released the Kansas Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan, developed with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Pandemic influenza is a worldwide outbreak of a new or unusual strain for which the population has little or no immunity. Health officials believe a strain of avian (bird) flu virus, found in parts of Asia and Indonesia and known as H5N1, could mutate to spread easily among people, causing the next pandemic influenza.

"Preparing Kansas for pandemic influenza has been and will continue to be a priority of this administration," said Governor Sebelius. "This plan reinforces our commitment to the health and well-being of Kansans."

"Pandemic influenza presents a number of challenges for the public and the health care system," said Roderick L. Bremby, KDHE Secretary. "The state's plan addresses the actions Kansas has taken to prepare and will take to respond to a pandemic with the goal of minimizing the impact on Kansas."

Governor, KDHE Urge Kansans to get Flu Shot; Kansas Releases Pandemic Plan - 2

The Kansas Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan addresses the state's public health emergency response during pandemic influenza including information management, disease investigation and disease management. It is presented according to the response phases of pandemic influenza as outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO). The plan addresses what the state will do in the phases (1-6) of a pandemic regarding emergency response, education, communication, disease monitoring and tracking, vaccine supplies, antivirals, priority groups and health care capacity issues. KDHE will work with partners to review/update the plan semiannually and to exercise the plan annually.

"This plan will direct the way KDHE and our partners investigate and manage pandemic flu cases, and communicate with the public and each other during pandemic influenza," said Howard Rodenberg, M.D., KDHE Division of Health Director. "The plan will involve all Kansans by calling upon them to take basic actions to protect their health, such as good handwashing practices."

The Kansas pandemic influenza plan addresses the need for every Kansan to take steps to stay healthy including frequent and thorough hand washing, eating right and exercising.
"Frequently washing your hands is critical during any flu season, as is eating right and exercising," said Gail Hansen, State Epidemiologist. "These same measures for keeping everyone healthy and preventing the spread of seasonal flu will help reduce the impact of pandemic influenza."

The Kansas pandemic influenza plan addresses steps to specifically reduce the spread of influenza during a pandemic. Public activities may need to be limited to reduce the likelihood of exposure. Isolation of ill individuals in health care settings will be important.

"Pandemic influenza will involve a comprehensive community response including public and private health care working together, as well as businesses, schools, churches and local government making decisions that result in what's best for the public health and to minimize the impact of a pandemic," Rodenberg said.

The Kansas plan addresses the use of vaccines (preventative) and antiviral medication (treatment) and the designation of priority groups to receive these. Vaccine and antiviral medications may be in short supply during pandemic influenza. Health care workers and those responsible for maintaining critical services may receive available vaccines and antiviral medication first in a pandemic to minimize the impact of the pandemic on society.

"It will be critical to ensure there are people to provide assistance to the sick, and keep communities functioning with necessary services," Rodenberg noted. "Still Kansans will need to prepare for the possible impact on society if many people are ill. This means planning ahead for normal food, water and prescription drug needs."

The Kansas plan addresses the use of isolation and quarantine during a pandemic. Isolation applies to persons who are known to have an illness and is designed to prevent infection of other individuals. Quarantine applies to those who have been exposed to an illness, but who may or may not become ill, and is designed to prevent the spread of infection. Use of isolation and quarantine is regarded as extraordinary measures, but might be considered following the implementation of other recommendations in a pandemic.

Governor, KDHE Urge Kansans to get Flu Shot; Kansas Releases Pandemic Plan - 3

"The effectiveness of quarantine in a pandemic has not been studied, so its benefits are largely unknown," Rodenberg noted. "Use of isolation and quarantine may be voluntary or compelled by public health authorities under state and local laws, and is designed to prevent spread of influenza to others."

"We believe Kansans will want to keep themselves and others from getting sick and will be likely to voluntarily isolate themselves from others when sick to limit exposure, and will be willing to agree to voluntarily quarantines to keep family, friends, and loved ones from getting sick," said Hansen.

As the plan details, response to pandemic influenza will be undertaken in partnership with local, federal and other state agencies. KDHE is working with the Kansas Division of Emergency Management (KDEM) to manage information and resource requests. KDHE will work with local health agencies to distribute medications and vaccines (when they become available), and to help maintain critical health care services.

Avian (Bird) Flu: Pandemic influenza is of more concern at this time, due to the avian (bird) flu strain in other countries. To date, 116 people in Asia and Indonesia have caught avian flu (H5N1) through close contact with chickens and other live poultry, resulting in 60 deaths. This virus has not yet mutated to result in easy person-to-person spread, but health officials expect it will, or that another flu virus not yet in the human population to mutate and cause pandemic influenza.

Vaccine for Avian Flu: Because the exact characteristics of a virus that could cause pandemic influenza are not yet known, a specific vaccine for it would have to be developed after the virus emerges. An experimental vaccine for the H5N1 virus might provide limited immunity and is being tested.

The H5N1 virus has not been found in poultry or humans in the U.S. The CDC and the WHO are actively monitoring the situation in Asia and Indonesia.

More information regarding influenza and pandemic influenza, including the Kansas Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan, may be found at www.kdheks.gov. Additional information is available at www.cdc.gov.

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